homework should be banned uk

Maths Learning Resources

Free for parents and fun for children! Discover a library of primary school maths worksheets, games, tips for parents, and more! Perfect for learning remotely, preparing for the 11 Plus exam, and making progress in maths.

• Key Stage 1

The Homework Debate 2021: Do Primary Schoolers Really Need Homework?

The homework debate resurfaces every year without fail. It is a popular topic with parents, primary school teachers, online tutors, and politicians alike. Should homework be banned? Is homework at primary school necessary? Do pupils receive enough education in class that homework is nothing but a waste of time? – These are all questions that you have no doubt heard before.

Is the homework debate even relevant in the context of COVID-19? As an  online maths tuition service  for KS1 and KS2 pupils, we believe so! Sometimes we set our students homework. We believe that this debate is more relevant now than it has ever been. Let’s discover why…

Helping Kids 'do' Mental Maths

Courses are running from June 1st – June 5th , 2021 .

In just two classes, our tutors can help your child develop fast calculation skills, applying them to all types of maths problems!

“Homework should be banned!” – The call to action

Our children are too tired!

Is it the case that we put too much pressure on children these days? At the age of 7, UK primary school pupils are expected to sit their Key Stage 1 SATs test. This continues in primary school up until Year 6 when they are expected to prepare for and sit their Key Stage 2 SATs test.

Some parents argue that this leaves little time for kids to wind down at home. When can they find the time to indulge in sports, hobbies, and creative interests if their time is consumed by homework? Let’s not forget the added stress caused by the UK Coronavirus lockdown.

Primary school homework does more harm than good:

A BBC Newsround report from 2018 consulted education experts on their views of the homework debate. Nansi Ellis, Assistant General Secretary at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers argued that homework gets in the way of all the good things kids enjoy. It does not always boost performance in class.

She also highlighted that it demands a lot of parents, not only their time but also of their own educational understanding. This sometimes backfires as the methods of learning in school twenty or thirty years ago are likely not the same as those taught nowadays. This can risk causing further confusion.

BBC Newsround’s own survey of the homework debate and how much homework primary school pupils receive found that parents thought:

Where is the proof?

The same BBC report saw Ellis claim that while teachers setting homework is in theory supposed to better results, there is no proof of this being the case. Rosamund McNeil from the teacher’s organisation NUT highlighted that cases abroad support this. In Finland, pupils are set minimal homework but it remains one of the most educationally successful countries in the world.

The homework debate is not just about students – it’s about teachers too!

Homework is time-consuming. Teachers must plan it and mark it, in addition to preparing their classroom lessons and reporting on pupils’ progress. Time constraints can force teachers to work late into the night at home which opens an entirely new can of worms. Overworked teachers are less effective in class. Perhaps it would be more efficient for schools to ban homework altogether.

The other side of the homework debate: Why our kids need homework

It has long been the view that homework acts as a supplement to what has been taught in class. It is an opportunity for pupils to review areas of work they might not understand, focusing their learning.

Homework for primary school students is a good thing!

Homework can be fun and imaginative, an opportunity for parents to bond with their children over education. Take the classic example of counting peas on the dinner plate to learn multiplication tables. Homework does not always have to be completed in a book or on a worksheet. It can often reflect the creativity of the teacher who can inspire children to take their learnings and apply them to the real world. Pricing a shopping list is an awesome way to practise maths while acquiring life skills!

In May 2021 we asked our social media community for their thoughts on this debate. More than two-thirds agreed that homework should not be banned. 

The UK is falling behind the rest of the world:

Once upon a time the UK may have had the best education system in the world. Now is not that time. Studies suggest that  UK literacy and maths rates are falling  while in other countries they continue to rise.

As a result, many teachers and parents agree that our children require further encouragement. This is not the time to ban homework in the UK. Especially when we take into consideration the months of lost learning caused by the COVID-19 UK lockdown. This is the time to help primary school children catch up, and homework can support the effort.

The homework debate in the context of COVID-19

We touched on this earlier before considering both sides of the argument in the UK homework debate. However, with home learning more popular than ever, is there still a place for homework in UK primary school education?

The homework debate solution: Online tuition

It’s engaging for children; it reflects what they have been learning in class and saves time for both parents and teachers.  Online tuition has soared in popularity through 2020  and 2021, and could be the solution for people on both sides of the homework debate.

Read more :  How online maths tutors are helping KS1 & KS2 pupils succeed.

In the UK there are tons of tuition services helping to provide kids with a competitive edge using an extracurricular push. You can view a list of the top 15 here:  Discover the UK’s best online tutors.

If you have any comments or questions regarding this topic, please feel free to let us know in the comment below or in our Facebook group  UK Primary School Maths – Tutoring & Tips,  we will reply to you as soon as we can.  

You may also like to read:

How Think Academy’s Online Maths Courses can Help Your Child Better Prepare KS2 SATs?

Top 5 Back to School Tips  Compiled by Think Academy’s Education Experts for 2020

KS1 SATs – How to Prepare Your Little One for Their First Test!

Primary School Maths Tutors – Tips for Parents: How to Find the Right Tutor with the UK’s TOP 15 Online Maths Tutors!

Free Maths Worksheets for Years 1 - 6

Download and print our teacher-approved study packs, for free!

You may like

Making Sense of Your Child’s End of Year School Report

School Starting age: Scotland vs England

• Uncategorized
• Preparing for the 11 plus exam
• Choosing a School for Your Child
• Primary School Education News
• Key Stage 2
• Free Learning Resources
• Online Maths Tuition
• Remote Learning

Homework should be banned – it’s taking over my kids’ lives

Share this with

‘What do you have to do tonight?’

That’s the first question I ask my two kids, aged nine and 14, when they get in from school. Not how they are, or how their day was – but, inevitably, what homework they’ve been given.

It’s not something I like asking, but it’s necessary so I can plan each evening. Still, hearing how much they’ve got to fit in before bed makes me feel stressed and on edge.

Recently, I was flicking through a newspaper when I saw Kirstie Allsopp of Location, Location, Location fame uttering hallowed words about her distaste for the after school activity.

She said that one of her ‘greatest regrets’ was making her children do homework when they were growing up – and she wished she’d let them off.

‘The tears, the time together lost, for many families [it] causes real, daily unhappiness to no good end,’ she added.

And I agree with her.

My kids do eight hours at school for five days a week, with a 40 minute commute. From the moment they get in, it’s ‘quickly eat, then we can do your homework.’ There’s no time to chat over dinner in my house, or spend quality time together.

For my nine-year-old, it’s not so bad: reading, spellings. But my 14-year-old seems to have bucketloads of the stuff. Once he’s eaten, finished his schoolwork, prepared for the next day and practised music, it’s 10pm. There’s often no down time for him.

Both of my kids have already been to school for a full day of learning, so is homework really that necessary?

Weekends are no exception, with me often sitting down with my daughter to go over her maths and English in more detail.

Those who extol these assignments say that they instill a sense of discipline; teaching children how to manage their own time and schedule properly. Others say it robs kids of their free time, causes rifts in families and is of no use whatsoever when most students are only assessed in exams anyway.

In my household, homework makes my stomach churn. I worry I am missing out on normal things like chatting about their day.

I don’t see what it achieves that reading a text, or a book each night instead, could not. I think this would be better than lots of individual tasks across a plethora of subjects.

After a long day, homework is often when done exhausted, hungry or just tired – and does not glean the best work. The effort might be there, but certainly not the quality. How is that a fair representation of talent?

And how can homework really ever be fair? Some children are supported at home by their parents, who perhaps know a thing or two about certain lessons, some aren’t.

Some live in quiet households where it’s conducive to homework, some live with noisy siblings.

Some live in homes where they’re fed and told to get on with it; others are young carers, having to make their own meals. Some even come home to an empty house, with their parents at work.

I can’t complain about my kids’ school – they’re amazing teachers who work so hard. But sending my kids home with such heavy burdens takes its toll.

I’ve lost count of the number of times my son has said: ‘Can I go swimming? Can I meet a friend? Can I watch this TV programme?’ and I’ve had to say no because he has homework to do.

I try to help where I can, of course. English and history, I’m fine with. But maths? I’m as good as a chocolate teapot.

I even asked a few friends who are teachers what they thought of homework and many agreed that it was a waste of time, adding that they already assess kids enough in school with classwork, coursework and exams.

‘It really is unnecessary,’ one told me guiltily. ‘It really doesn’t count for much.’

I’d like to see a total ban, or if not that, a steep decline in the sheer amount given.

So, next week, as my kids get in, drop their bags and head for the fridge – I’ll try to bite my tongue. Instead of my usual first question, I’ll ask them about their day. Instead of telling them to wolf down dinner to get to the books faster, I’ll encourage a slower meal and a chat over the table.

Because, as Kirstie Allsopp said, we can’t get these years back.

Our kids are only young once, and for so long. Their days are packed with learning and their home should be a haven where they can unwind, and leave school behind.

The Truth Is...

Metro.co.uk’s weekly The Truth Is… series seeks to explore anything and everything when it comes to life’s unspoken truths and long-held secrets. Contributors will challenge popular misconceptions on a topic close to their hearts, confess to a deeply personal secret, or reveal their wisdom from experience – good and bad – when it comes to romance or family relationships.

If you would like your share your truth with our readers, email  [email protected] .

MORE : ‘I gave birth to someone else’s baby’: What it’s really like to be a surrogate

MORE : What to expect when buying a property: Make sure to do your homework

MORE : Parents turn to Alexa and Google because kids’ homework is too hard

Sign up to our guide to what’s on in London, trusted reviews, brilliant offers and competitions. London’s best bits in your inbox

By ticking this box, you confirm you are over the age of 18*. Privacy Policy »

Get us in your feed

• Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
• Previous Issues
• Future tech
• Everyday science
• Planet Earth
• Newsletters

Should homework be banned?

Social media has sparked into life about whether children should be given homework - should students be freed from this daily chore? Dr Gerald Letendre, a professor of education at Pennsylvania State University, investigates.

We’ve all done it: pretended to leave an essay at home, or stayed up until 2am to finish a piece of coursework we’ve been ignoring for weeks. Homework, for some people, is seen as a chore that’s ‘wrecking kids’ or ‘killing parents’, while others think it is an essential part of a well-rounded education. The problem is far from new: public debates about homework have been raging since at least the early-1900s, and recently spilled over into a Twitter feud between Gary Lineker and Piers Morgan.

Ironically, the conversation surrounding homework often ignores the scientific ‘homework’ that researchers have carried out. Many detailed studies have been conducted, and can guide parents, teachers and administrators to make sensible decisions about how much work should be completed by students outside of the classroom.

So why does homework stir up such strong emotions? One reason is that, by its very nature, it is an intrusion of schoolwork into family life. I carried out a study in 2005, and found that the amount of time that children and adolescents spend in school, from nursery right up to the end of compulsory education, has greatly increased over the last century . This means that more of a child’s time is taken up with education, so family time is reduced. This increases pressure on the boundary between the family and the school.

Plus, the amount of homework that students receive appears to be increasing, especially in the early years when parents are keen for their children to play with friends and spend time with the family.

Finally, success in school has become increasingly important to success in life. Parents can use homework to promote, or exercise control over, their child’s academic trajectory, and hopefully ensure their future educational success. But this often leaves parents conflicted – they want their children to be successful in school, but they don’t want them to be stressed or upset because of an unmanageable workload.

However, the issue isn’t simply down to the opinions of parents, children and their teachers – governments also like to get involved. In the autumn of 2012, French president François Hollande hit world headlines after making a comment about banning homework, ostensibly because it promoted inequality. The Chinese government has also toyed with a ban, because of concerns about excessive academic pressure being put on children.

The problem is, some politicians and national administrators regard regulatory policy in education as a solution for a wide array of social, economic and political issues, perhaps without considering the consequences for students and parents.

Does homework work?

Homework seems to generally have a positive effect for high school students, according to an extensive range of empirical literature. For example, Duke University’s Prof Harris Cooper carried out a meta-analysis using data from US schools, covering a period from 1987 to 2003. He found that homework offered a general beneficial impact on test scores and improvements in attitude, with a greater effect seen in older students. But dig deeper into the issue and a complex set of factors quickly emerges, related to how much homework students do, and exactly how they feel about it.

In 2009, Prof Ulrich Trautwein and his team at the University of Tübingen found that in order to establish whether homework is having any effect, researchers must take into account the differences both between and within classes . For example, a teacher may assign a good deal of homework to a lower-level class, producing an association between more homework and lower levels of achievement. Yet, within the same class, individual students may vary significantly in how much homework improves their baseline performance. Plus, there is the fact that some students are simply more efficient at completing their homework than others, and it becomes quite difficult to pinpoint just what type of homework, and how much of it, will affect overall academic performance.

Over the last century, the amount of time that children and adolescents spend in school has greatly increased

Gender is also a major factor. For example, a study of US high school students carried out by Prof Gary Natriello in the 1980s revealed that girls devote more time to homework than boys, while a follow-up study found that US girls tend to spend more time on mathematics homework than boys. Another study, this time of African-American students in the US, found that eighth grade (ages 13-14) girls were more likely to successfully manage both their tasks and emotions around schoolwork, and were more likely to finish homework.

So why do girls seem to respond more positively to homework? One possible answer proposed by Eunsook Hong of the University of Nevada in 2011 is that teachers tend to rate girls’ habits and attitudes towards work more favourably than boys’. This perception could potentially set up a positive feedback loop between teacher expectations and the children’s capacity for academic work based on gender, resulting in girls outperforming boys. All of this makes it particularly difficult to determine the extent to which homework is helping, though it is clear that simply increasing the time spent on assignments does not directly correspond to a universal increase in learning.

Can homework cause damage?

The lack of empirical data supporting homework in the early years of education, along with an emerging trend to assign more work to this age range, appears to be fuelling parental concerns about potential negative effects. But, aside from anecdotes of increased tension in the household, is there any evidence of this? Can doing too much homework actually damage children?

Evidence suggests extreme amounts of homework can indeed have serious effects on students’ health and well-being. A Chinese study carried out in 2010 found a link between excessive homework and sleep disruption: children who had less homework had better routines and more stable sleep schedules. A Canadian study carried out in 2015 by Isabelle Michaud found that high levels of homework were associated with a greater risk of obesity among boys, if they were already feeling stressed about school in general.

For useful revision guides and video clips to assist with learning, visit BBC Bitesize . This is a free online study resource for UK students from early years up to GCSEs and Scottish Highers.

It is also worth noting that too much homework can create negative effects that may undermine any positives. These negative consequences may not only affect the child, but also could also pile on the stress for the whole family, according to a recent study by Robert Pressman of the New England Centre for Pediatric Psychology. Parents were particularly affected when their perception of their own capacity to assist their children decreased.

What then, is the tipping point, and when does homework simply become too much for parents and children? Guidelines typically suggest that children in the first grade (six years old) should have no more that 10 minutes per night, and that this amount should increase by 10 minutes per school year. However, cultural norms may greatly affect what constitutes too much.

A study of children aged between 8 and 10 in Quebec defined high levels of homework as more than 30 minutes a night, but a study in China of children aged 5 to 11 deemed that two or more hours per night was excessive. It is therefore difficult to create a clear standard for what constitutes as too much homework, because cultural differences, school-related stress, and negative emotions within the family all appear to interact with how homework affects children.

Should we stop setting homework?

In my opinion, even though there are potential risks of negative effects, homework should not be banned. Small amounts, assigned with specific learning goals in mind and with proper parental support, can help to improve students’ performance. While some studies have generally found little evidence that homework has a positive effect on young children overall, a 2008 study by Norwegian researcher Marte Rønning found that even some very young children do receive some benefit. So simply banning homework would mean that any particularly gifted or motivated pupils would not be able to benefit from increased study. However, at the earliest ages, very little homework should be assigned. The decisions about how much and what type are best left to teachers and parents.

As a parent, it is important to clarify what goals your child’s teacher has for homework assignments. Teachers can assign work for different reasons – as an academic drill to foster better study habits, and unfortunately, as a punishment. The goals for each assignment should be made clear, and should encourage positive engagement with academic routines.

Parents should inform the teachers of how long the homework is taking, as teachers often incorrectly estimate the amount of time needed to complete an assignment, and how it is affecting household routines. For young children, positive teacher support and feedback is critical in establishing a student’s positive perception of homework and other academic routines. Teachers and parents need to be vigilant and ensure that homework routines do not start to generate patterns of negative interaction that erode students’ motivation.

Likewise, any positive effects of homework are dependent on several complex interactive factors, including the child’s personal motivation, the type of assignment, parental support and teacher goals. Creating an overarching policy to address every single situation is not realistic, and so homework policies tend to be fixated on the time the homework takes to complete. But rather than focusing on this, everyone would be better off if schools worked on fostering stronger communication between parents, teachers and students, allowing them to respond more sensitively to the child’s emotional and academic needs.

• Five brilliant science books for kids
• Will e-learning replace teachers?

Follow Science Focus on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and Flipboard

Share this article

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Code of conduct
• Magazine subscriptions
• Manage preferences

• 1 Million Minutes
• Competitions

Weekdays | 6am-9am

More than half of parents want to BAN homework

More than half of parents think that homework is a waste of time and adds extra stress on children. It follows a poll by Good Morning Britain showing 52% in favour of a ban and 48% against one.

Gary Lineker and Eamonn Holmes have hit out at schools calling homework 'a waste of time', claiming it instigates stress at home.

Despite a majority vote for a ban on homework for school children, the subject is splitting opinion and was hotly debated on today's Good Morning Britain. Child behaviour expert, Lorrine Marer claims homework should be banned, whilst founder and headteacher of Britain's 'strictest school' Katharine Birbalsingh, says homework is a vital part of learning and teaches self-discipline.

This morning they went head-to-head on Good Morning Britain to argue their points.

The debate follows tweets by comedian and actor Rob Delaney, known for his role in Channel Four's Catastrophe.

He originally sparked the debate when he wrote on Twitter: "Why do they give seven-year-olds so much homework in the UK and how do I stop this?"

Many jumped to support the star's plea, including a host of celebrities such as Romesh Ranga and Jason Manford.

But Piers Morgan had other ideas and suggested in a tweet to Gary Lineker, that parents who support a ban on homework are "lazy ". He added: "As a nation, we're falling so far behind educational standards of countries like China, it's embarrassing. Telling our kids to now give up on homework seems a perverse response to this...."

'Homework is a waste of time' Gary Lineker via Twitter

Piers Morgan was quick to defend his thoughts on the need for homework.

Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2018/10/28/education-secretary-i-trust-head-teachers-to-decide-their-homework-policies/

Education Secretary: I trust head teachers to decide their homework policies

Education Secretary Damian Hinds has today written an op-ed for the Sunday Times setting out his position on homework, which has been followed up with a news story . He says that ultimately up to heads and school leaders to decide whether to set homework and what the consequences should be if children do not complete their homework set.

The Education Secretary said:

One of the tougher things I’ve taken on recently was solving a ‘part-whole model’, involving nine ducks and a jagged shoreline. This was, I should clarify, a piece of homework for one of my children, not something called for in my day job. Homework is a staple of school life, and of home life. Parents know this. After all, almost every one of us will have done homework ourselves as a child and most of us will be drafted in to help with it at some point as a parent, carer or grandparent. There has been some high-profile interest of late on social media suggesting that homework is bad for children, at least in the first half of schooling. There have even been subsequent questions about its legal status. Just to be clear: schools are not obliged to set homework, and some don’t. But when schools do set homework, children do need to do it. We trust individual school head teachers to decide what their policy on homework will be, and what happens if pupils don’t do what’s set. Policy and approach won’t be the same in all cases. Autonomy for schools, and the diversity that comes with it, is at the heart of this government’s approach to education. Of course, schools should, and do, communicate with parents. Parents need to know where they stand. Teachers obviously need to be realistic about expectations, and they know this. Obviously, no one wants children spending an inordinate amount of time every night doing homework. Clearly, there are other important things to do, too – like playing outside, family time, eating together. Good homework policies avoid excessive time requirements – focusing on quality rather than quantity and making sure that there is a clear purpose to any homework set. In 2011 we helped set up the Education Endowment Foundation as an independent expert body to study and advise on “what works” in education. It has established that, although there are more significant educational improvements derived from homework at secondary school, there can still be a modest but positive impact at primary level. Homework isn’t just some joyless pursuit of knowledge. It’s an integral part of learning. Beyond the chance to practice and reinforce what you’ve learned in class, it’s also an opportunity to develop independent study and application – and character traits like perseverance. Children need to know that what they do has consequences. At secondary school, if a pupil doesn’t complete their homework, they risk falling behind. They may also hold up others – clearly it is harder for the teacher to keep the whole class moving forward if some are doing the homework and others aren’t. At primary school, too, we all want our children to develop their knowledge – but we also want them to develop values. Homework set at primary school is likely to be of relatively shorter duration. But if a child is asked to do it and they don’t, for that to have no consequence would not be a positive lesson. Ultimately, of course, the responsibility for a child’s educational development is a shared one. Parental involvement makes a big difference, from the very earliest stage. In the early years parents can support their child’s development through story telling, singing or reading together. Later on, homework can give an ‘in’ for continued involvement in learning. Homework should not in general require adult help, and with today’s busy lives it certainly can be hard to find the time. But I know as a parent that we are called on as reinforcements if an assignment is especially challenging. Other times, it falls to parents just to give a nudge. I want all children to enjoy their progress through school and they will have a much better chance of doing this if they are not having to play catch-up during the day. Parents need to trust teachers, with all their experience of teaching and learning – and know that their child’s homework is not just proportionate, but will be of lasting benefit. From motivation and self-discipline to the wonder of independent learning, homework can teach children about far more than the part-whole model, some ducks and a jagged shoreline.

Follow us on Twitter and don't forget to sign up for email alerts .

Sharing and comments

Share this page, related content and links, about the education hub.

The Education Hub is a site for parents, pupils, education professionals and the media that captures all you need to know about the education system. You’ll find accessible, straightforward information on popular topics, Q&As, interviews, case studies, and more.

Please note that for media enquiries, journalists should call our central Newsdesk on 020 7783 8300. This media-only line operates from Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm. Outside of these hours the number will divert to the duty media officer.

Members of the public should call our general enquiries line on 0370 000 2288.

Sign up and manage updates

Follow us on social media, search by date, comments and moderation policy.

The Best Of Moncrieff

14:00-16:00

Newstalk School Survey: Majority of parents against banning homework

21.16 30 Aug 2023

Share this article

A majority of parents of primary and secondary school students believe homework should be kept, a new Newstalk survey finds.

The latest in a series of polls carried out by Amárach Research for Newstalk examines all things Back to School from voluntary contributions  to  transport and divestment.

The survey finds 56% of parents at primary level believe homework should not be banned, while 9% don't know.

A majority of parents of second-level students - 76% - believe homework should not be banned.

Just under 20% believe it should be banned for secondary school children, while 6% don't know.

Principal of Rathcoole Educate Together Gemma Maher told The Hard Shoulder she can't understand the need for it.

"From day one, we decided that we weren't going to do homework," she said.

"I came from a school where we had tried to bring in no homework, but the parents were so up in arms that we tried other things instead.

"When I started this new school, we thought we'd start as we meant to go on.

"The parents are loving it, and the kids are loving it, and we think it's great."

'Filling that gap'

Ms Maher said opposition from parents usually stems from "the age-old thing: How will I know what my child is doing in school?"

"They want to know what's going on in their child's day; for some schools, that's the only communication they give to the parents.

"For us, we wanted to make sure that because of that issue, we would fill that gap.

"So in Rathcoole Educate Together, we do a monthly newsletter for the parents... and it covers everything we're going to do that month.

"It also includes things that parents can do at home that would enhance the teaching, but it's all hands-on active things."

'Stress and pressure'

Ms Maher said parents trying to fill the teacher's roles at home can often be counter-productive.

"Parents aren't teachers unless you're lucky like my kids, and you've got two of them at home," she said.

"Most parents can't sit down and teach a child how to do multiplication; they end up making the kid hate the subject more because it creates stress and pressure that doesn't need to be there."

Ms Maher said she believes homework can negatively impact family life.

"I come home every day at 4pm/4.30pm and the last thing I want to be doing is sitting down doing homework in a book with my child.

"We go out for a walk on the scooters, or we cook dinner together, or we sit down and have a chat about our day.

"A lot of that's missed because homework gets in the way, and it creates this negative relationship between parent and child.

"That's not what any schoolteacher wants - we want to re-enforce the learning and the full part of it."

Ms Maher said homework ultimately won't change academic outcomes.

"There is no document that says that homework works," she said.

"To me, any child who's doing well in school will do well at homework, but any child who's not doing well at school won't do well at homework.

"It doesn't change the results you're going to get.

"The homework schools traditionally set are things that children should be able to manage by themselves at home, so what's the point of it?" she added.

Main image: A young boy doing his homework at home. Picture by: dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo

Read more about

Most Popular

Certain contraceptives leading to ‘brain growths’ in women

DUP left ‘in a fragile state’ after Donaldson charges

‘It’s not good for anyone’ - Fuel prices rise today

Electoral Commission: Treat all election information like it's April Fool’s Day

‘There’s no flexibility’ - Finding a mortgage as a self-employed person 

Simon Harris made 'empty promises' to children with scoliosis

Consumer myths debunked: You don't have to show a boarding pass when shopping

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Homework: is it worth the hassle?

Parents and educators question the value of setting assignments for students. But what does the neuroscience say?

Like all teachers, I’ve spent many hours correcting homework. Yet there’s a debate over whether we should be setting it at all.

I teach both primary and secondary, and regularly find myself drawn into the argument on the reasoning behind it – parents, and sometimes colleagues, question its validity. Parent-teacher interviews can become consumed by how much trouble students have completing assignments. All of which has led me to question the neuroscience behind setting homework. Is it worth it?

Increasingly, there’s a divide between those who support the need for homework and those who suggest the time would be better spent with family and developing relationships. The anxiety related to homework is frequently reviewed.

A survey of high-performing high schools by the Stanford Graduate School of Education, for example, found that 56% of students considered homework a primary source of stress. These same students reported that the demands of homework caused sleep deprivation and other health problems, as well as less time for friends, family and extracurricular pursuits.

Working memory?

When students learn in the classroom, they are using their short-term or working memory. This information is continually updated during the class. On leaving the classroom, the information in the working memory is replaced by the topic in the next class.

Adults experience a similar reaction when they walk into a new room and forget why they are there. The new set of sensory information – lighting, odours, temperature – enters their working memory and any pre-existing information is displaced. It’s only when the person returns to the same environment that they remember the key information.

But education is about more than memorising facts. Students need to access the information in ways that are relevant to their world, and to transfer knowledge to new situations.

Many of us will have struggled to remember someone’s name when we meet them in an unexpected environment (a workmate at the gym, maybe), and we are more likely to remember them again once we’ve seen them multiple times in different places. Similarly, students must practise their skills in different environments.

Revising the key skills learned in the classroom during homework increases the likelihood of a student remembering and being able to use those skills in a variety of situations in the future, contributing to their overall education.

The link between homework and educational achievement is supported by research: a meta-analysis of studies between 1987 and 2003 found that: “With only rare exceptions, the relationship between the amount of homework students do and their achievement outcomes was found to be positive and statistically significant.”

The right type of work

The homework debate is often split along the lines of primary school compared with secondary school. Education researcher Professor John Hattie, who has ranked various influences on student learning and achievement, found that homework in primary schools has a negligible effect (most homework set has little to no impact on a student’s overall learning). However, it makes a bigger difference in secondary schools.

His explanation is that students in secondary schools are often given tasks that reinforce key skills learned in the classroom that day, whereas primary students may be asked to complete separate assignments. “The worst thing you can do with homework is give kids projects; the best thing you can do is reinforce something you’ve already learned,” he told the BBC in 2014.

So homework can be effective when it’s the right type of homework. In my own practice, the primary students I teach will often be asked to find real-life examples of the concept taught instead of traditional homework tasks, while homework for secondary students consolidates the key concepts covered in the classroom. For secondary in particular, I find a general set of rules useful:

• Set work that’s relevant. This includes elaborating on information addressed in the class or opportunities for students to explore the key concept in areas of their own interest.
• Make sure students can complete the homework. Pitch it to a student’s age and skills – anxiety will only limit their cognitive abilities in that topic. A high chance of success will increase the reward stimulation in the brain.
• Get parents involved, without the homework being a point of conflict with students. Make it a sharing of information, rather than a battle.
• Check the homework with the students afterwards. This offers a chance to review the key concepts and allow the working memory to become part of the long-term memory.

While there is no data on the effectiveness of homework in different subjects, these general rules could be applied equally to languages, mathematics or humanities. And by setting the right type of homework, you’ll help to reinforce key concepts in a new environment, allowing the information you teach to be used in a variety of contexts in the future.

Helen Silvester is a writer for npj Science of Learning Community

Follow us on Twitter via @GuardianTeach . Join the Guardian Teacher Network for lesson resources, comment and job opportunities , direct to your inbox.

• Teacher Network
• Secondary schools

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

Accessibility Links

Homework should be banned

I’m not one for craven populism. I dare to say the unsayable. In my time on these pages, I’ve suggested some pretty contentious things. Jam is horrible. Fish are evil. Ketchup shouldn’t be kept in the fridge. Father Christmas is the sexiest man alive.

But this week I am going to say something that I confidently expect to win 100 per cent support. I cannot imagine a single person disagreeing with me. It’s this:

We should ban homework.

If one thing happens in 2015, it should be a concerted campaign to eradicate this illogical, damaging, ass-paining institution once and for all. It is an invention universally loathed. It’s slightly less popular than mouth ulcers.

For children, homework is one of their classic enemies: up there

• Latest Headlines
• Meghan Markle
• Kate Middleton
• Fashion Finder

Should homework be banned? Professor tells GMB it has a 'very limited purpose' while Vice Chairman for the Campaign for Real Education says teachers need to improve their 'attitudes' to make it more appealing

• Vice Chairman Katie Ivens argued that homework is of 'great value' to children
• Said that there may be 'problems with teaching and teacher's attitudes'
• Professor Robert Winston instead said he would get rid of GCSEs and A levels 

By Chloe Morgan For Mailonline

Published: 04:25 EDT, 27 May 2021 | Updated: 08:55 EDT, 27 May 2021

View comments

Banning homework from schools to benefit both teachers and students sparked a fierce debate this morning on GMB as education experts clashed over whether teachers are to blame for not making it more 'appealing'.  

Appearing on Good Morning Britain , Vice Chairman for the Campaign for Real Education Katie Ivens, argued that 'homework is of great value,' while Professor Robert Winston said he would get rid of GCSEs and A levels and urged children to focus on hobbies instead. 

It comes after new research by the Times Education Commission, found that 70 per cent of teachers think there's too much homework and only 20 per cent believe homework is essential for learning.  

Speaking to presenters Susanna Reid and Ben Shepherd, Katie argued: 'Homework enables children to take work home that they've been studying at school, give it their own perspective, interact with it, learn more. I actually think it helps to create critical thinking as a matter of fact, which is a very good thing. You can advance what you're learning.  

'It's an opportunity to move on. It should not be banned, absolutely not. If it needs improve it, then improve it. If teachers are bored by it, they better cultivate their interests and become good setters of good homework.

There may be problems with teaching and teacher's attitudes, quite possibly. But homework is most important.' 

Professor Robert Winston (pictured) instead said he would get rid of GCSEs and ALlevels and urged children to focus on hobbies

Taking to the comments section, one person vented: 'This lady is really out of touch. When was the last time she was in a classroom? Teachers teach during the day and go home and still carry on working (marking/planning). We hate homework. If it's done it's done, if not oh well' (pictured)

However, Professor Robert Winston went on to say that homework has a 'very limited purpose' and said it 'destroyed much of his homelife' as a consequence.

'I think the first thing to say is there's far too much homework and it should be reduced,' he explained. 'The evidence it produces a better achievement is just not there - there's no good statistical evidence. 

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

'I think we need to listen to teachers. They're under too much strain at the moment and not just because of Covid. They're already having to work very, very hard and to add to that to that is a very serious issue. In my view, if it's not really doing the children any good it's not worthwhile.'

And it wasn't long before viewers took to Twitter and were left raging by Katie's comments - with many branding Professor Robert a 'legend.'

Katie Ivens (pictured), the Vice Chairman for the Campaign for Real Education was branded 'out of touch' and 'patronising' as she argued that homework should not be banned and that 'teaching standards' are the problem

The guests debated whether homework should be banned. Pictured, on today's show

'This lady is really out of touch,' wrote one. 'When was the last time she was in a classroom? Teachers teach during the day and go home and still carry on working (marking/planning). We hate homework. If it's done it's done, if not oh well.'

A second commented: 'Katie, shh. Homework cannot be done at the same level as schoolwork, teachers have to consider if parents can understand it, have time to help their children etc.'  

Professor Robert Winston went on to argue that he believes A levels actually 'prevent' critical thinking - before branding that a 'very different argument altogether.'

'We're talking about homework and the need for children to develop their hobbies and perhaps if they can and have enough money, play a musical instrument, there's a whole range of things they can be doing at home which contributes to their learning,' he continued.

Taking to the comments section, one person penned: 'For me...everyday is homework. We learn something new every day whether it be from watching documentaries on tv or doing quick Google searches. I'm nearly 30 and I find myself learning new facts that I was NEVER taught at school' (pictured)

After hearing that viewers were in agreement with the Professor, Katie responded: 'Well maybe the homework set and the quality is not very good. Maybe the teaching standards in this country are not the best in the world. Homework is an opportunity for children to learn if they;re not learning much in the day.' 

Taking to the comments section, one person who tuned in penned: 'For me...everyday is homework. We learn something new every day whether it be from watching documentaries on tv or doing quick Google searches. I'm nearly 30 and I find myself learning new facts that I was NEVER taught at school.'

Another commented: 'yes yes Robert Winston all kids up and down the country CHEERING and throwing away the paper stack at home,' while a third added: 'Homework has become a substitute for actual teaching because there is no way you can learn 20 GCSE subjects all in class, or at all effectivley.'

However, there were a few in agreement with Katie, with one writing: 'I’m in support of homework. All the people on here who are against homework were probably just shit at their own school work and a bit bitter about it.'

Another suggested: 'There is too much choice on the curriculum, to stop homework reduce the choices on the curriculum to just the basic's Maths, English, Science.'

Share or comment on this article: Good Morning Britain: Should homework be banned?

Most watched news videos.

• Dramatic moment armed police swoop on gang after DPD driver murder
• PM pays tribute to the 'amazing work of Christian communities'
• Quiet moments in Dover after the Easter break traffic
• Brit skier and friend stuck in chairlift swung by wind at ski resort
• Exclusive: Thugs attack jewellery store owners with hammers
• Men loot and set fire to a KFC chicken restaurant in Pakistan
• Moment an airport ceiling collapses amid heavy rainfall in India
• Moment police escort away pro-Palestinian protesters at London demo
• Austin Hunter Turner is tased by police during arrest
• Earl Spencer's daughter does Easter egg hunt while riding a horse
• Well wisher tells King to 'keep going strong' after Easter service

Comments 621

Share what you think

• Worst rated

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Femail Today

• Follow DailyMail
• Subscribe Daily Mail
• Follow @dailymail
• Follow MailOnline
• Follow Daily Mail

• Today's headlines
• Why I believe it was wrong to be 'body positive' about my plus-sized figure. There are proven health implications of being overweight - and it's wildly unhelpful to tell people otherwise
• Think leather always looks tacky? This is how to look more Kate Moss than Kim Kardashian and avoid Victoria Beckham's fashion faux pas
• Ad Feature Prepping for early parenthood? Try these top 10 tips for mother and baby... to help you navigate those early months like a pro!
• DR MAX PEMBERTON: Even I now believe that talking about mental health has gone too far. We risk labelling everyday feelings as abnormal
• Having children DOESN'T have to ruin your sex life: Here's the definitive guide to how it can survive - and even be better than ever
• Gen Z - yes, I mean my grandkids - are the rudest generation ever. These youngsters are the princelings of today, leading the lives they choose and never mind about anybody else
• Royal Ascot breaks with tradition by creating its first lookbook in 300 years - and telling racegoers to wear the style they feel most comfortable in
• MORE HEADLINES
• I was married to a Premier League footballer - I had money, designer clothes and famous friends... but here's my warning to girls wanting to be a WAG
• Confessions of an 'Amish stripper': Woman who grew up in strict conservative sect opens up about how she endured years of abuse, drug addiction, and sex work after leaving the settlement at 17
• Lady Louise Windsor misses Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel  for the second year in a row
• I'm a forensic psychiatrist and I work with killers - here are 5 myths people believe about murderers
• I'm a professional cleaner - these are the five common mistakes you're making when cleaning your home
• This one piece of clothing won't make your bum look big, you don't need to be tall and IS flattering if you're over 50
• I'm a cleaning expert - here is the easiest way to clean your air fryer WITHOUT scrubbing
• MOST READ IN DETAIL

• Back to top

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

Should school homework be banned? Have your say

Do you think that school pupils have too much on their plate already? Do you think that homework should be banned?

• 18:06, 26 JAN 2023

School pupils face a lot of pressure and stress. We all remember the fear of forgetting a piece of homework, walking into the classroom empty handed and being slapped with a detention.

The UK's national learning curriculum is extensive and details the massive amount of work teachers face to educate our young and developing future generations - so why is even more being thrown at the students and teachers?

With the current news of teachers under the National Education Union (NEU) deciding to take industrial action for better working conditions and pay hitting the headlines, the debate of homework is pulled into the spotlight too.

Students face mounting amounts of work. Adding extra curricular activities, sport, social lives and time to relax can be incredibly overwhelming. Is homework too much? Are we pushing our children to complete burnout?

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp has voiced a divisive opinion of the practice of setting homework, saying that homework is a "waste of time" and urged parents and families to "enjoy the weekend".

But should we be considering a restructure of homework over a blanket ban? Instead of enforcing a ‘textbook’ style of homework, should we be encouraging schools to set creative and enriching homework?

One school in Ashton Gate transformed the community into a temporary ‘paradise’ with a creative task a few years ago, which the students took to with complete gusto.

The UK government sets the national curriculum. It is issued by law and all state funded schools are required to follow it.

Its general purpose is to ensure that every state-funded school “offers a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based and which:

promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and

prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life”

As always, we would love to hear what you think of this issue. Take our poll and then head to the comments to get involved with the debate.

If you cannot see the poll at the top of the page, click here to head to it directly .

School says it will fine parents if they are late to pick up children

Police to step up patrols after Cabot Circus yob mob violence

People living on Bristol's harbour are 'abusing system' and are a 'privileged few' says Mayor Marvin Rees

Strikes in Bristol this February - dates for nurses, teachers, legal, rail and ambulance workers

• Cabot Circus
• Marvin Rees
• Bristol Live
• Most Recent

Gary Lineker Wants Homework To Be Banned Because Kids Get Stressed And 'Don't Want To Do It'

Life editor at HuffPost UK

Gary Lineker thinks homework should be banned for kids .

The 56-year-old ‘Match of the Day’ host, who is dad to George, 24, Harry, 22, Tobias, 20, and Angus, 18, thinks kids do enough studying during school hours.

“Homework should be banned,” he told Sport magazine . “All it does is drive a massive wedge between parents and children because you end up having to do it for them, and it’s stressful.

“They get stressed and they don’t want to do it. They’re at school long enough as it is. Why do you have to come home and do two hours of homework?”

Lineker said he knew there’d be a camp of parents who disagreed with him, but added: “A lot of parents would agree, especially if you’ve had four boys.”

People took to Twitter to discuss Lineker’s comments.

One dad disagreed with the ban and said it would be more useful for parents to get lessons on how to support their kids with homework.

Don't often disagree with @GaryLineker but providing lessons for parents in support of their child doing homework would be better than a ban https://t.co/OJXjx8mQsH — Graham Bett (@GrahamBett) January 27, 2017

However a school principal said Lineker had a point and homework needs a “clearer focus”.

He has a point, we need to set better homework with clear focus -Gary Lineker wants homework banned https://t.co/QDd2zofXpW @schoolsimprove — John Wilson (@johnwilsonedu) January 27, 2017

Kirstie Allsopp also agreed with the comments.

“No evidence that under tens gain from homework and kids hate it,” she tweeted. “Parents hate it and teachers hate it.”

No evidence that under 10s gain from homework AND kids hate it, parents hate it & teachers hate it. https://t.co/1NabdAseJC — Kirstie Mary Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) January 26, 2017

Homework is an absurd hangover from another time. Much, much better to focus on reading, reading, reading and more reading. — Kirstie Mary Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) January 26, 2017

Several other parents soon tweeted Allsopp saying they agreed.

@KirstieMAllsopp @EamonnHolmes @GaryLineker @Fern_Britton setting homework&spellings takes time&wastes time&has little impact on learning😞 — Jen Wells (@BeaniBoo) January 27, 2017

@KirstieMAllsopp @EamonnHolmes @GaryLineker @Fern_Britton yes it is! Everynight there's a homework drama in our house 😝 — JReid (@JackieReid15) January 27, 2017

@KirstieMAllsopp @EamonnHolmes @GaryLineker @Fern_Britton My grandson started school in August and on his first day he got homework! Why??? — Moira Weild (@Chirpy59) January 26, 2017

@EamonnHolmes @GaryLineker @KirstieMAllsopp @Fern_Britton My 5 year old grandson has up to 3 different bits of homework nightly. #stressed — christine hindhaugh (@chozzy1) January 26, 2017

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Before You Go

Pregnant Celebrities 2017

Why I Think All Schools Should Abolish Homework

H ow long is your child’s workweek? Thirty hours? Forty? Would it surprise you to learn that some elementary school kids have workweeks comparable to adults’ schedules? For most children, mandatory homework assignments push their workweek far beyond the school day and deep into what any other laborers would consider overtime. Even without sports or music or other school-sponsored extracurriculars, the daily homework slog keeps many students on the clock as long as lawyers, teachers, medical residents, truck drivers and other overworked adults. Is it any wonder that,deprived of the labor protections that we provide adults, our kids are suffering an epidemic of disengagement, anxiety and depression ?

With my youngest child just months away from finishing high school, I’m remembering all the needless misery and missed opportunities all three of my kids suffered because of their endless assignments. When my daughters were in middle school, I would urge them into bed before midnight and then find them clandestinely studying under the covers with a flashlight. We cut back on their activities but still found ourselves stuck in a system on overdrive, returning home from hectic days at 6 p.m. only to face hours more of homework. Now, even as a senior with a moderate course load, my son, Zak, has spent many weekends studying, finding little time for the exercise and fresh air essential to his well-being. Week after week, and without any extracurriculars, Zak logs a lot more than the 40 hours adults traditionally work each week — and with no recognition from his “bosses” that it’s too much. I can’t count the number of shared evenings, weekend outings and dinners that our family has missed and will never get back.

How much after-school time should our schools really own?

In the midst of the madness last fall, Zak said to me, “I feel like I’m working towards my death. The constant demands on my time since 5th grade are just going to continue through graduation, into college, and then into my job. It’s like I’m on an endless treadmill with no time for living.”

My spirit crumbled along with his.

Like Zak, many people are now questioning the point of putting so much demand on children and teens that they become thinly stretched and overworked. Studies have long shown that there is no academic benefit to high school homework that consumes more than a modest number of hours each week. In a study of high schoolers conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), researchers concluded that “after around four hours of homework per week, the additional time invested in homework has a negligible impact on performance.”

In elementary school, where we often assign overtime even to the youngest children, studies have shown there’s no academic benefit to any amount of homework at all.

Our unquestioned acceptance of homework also flies in the face of all we know about human health, brain function and learning. Brain scientists know that rest and exercise are essential to good health and real learning . Even top adult professionals in specialized fields take care to limit their work to concentrated periods of focus. A landmark study of how humans develop expertise found that elite musicians, scientists and athletes do their most productive work only about four hours per day .

Yet we continue to overwork our children, depriving them of the chance to cultivate health and learn deeply, burdening them with an imbalance of sedentary, academic tasks. American high school students , in fact, do more homework each week than their peers in the average country in the OECD, a 2014 report found.

It’s time for an uprising.

Already, small rebellions are starting. High schools in Ridgewood, N.J. , and Fairfax County, Va., among others, have banned homework over school breaks. The entire second grade at Taylor Elementary School in Arlington, Va., abolished homework this academic year. Burton Valley Elementary School in Lafayette, Calif., has eliminated homework in grades K through 4. Henry West Laboratory School , a public K-8 school in Coral Gables, Fla., eliminated mandatory, graded homework for optional assignments. One Lexington, Mass., elementary school is piloting a homework-free year, replacing it with reading for pleasure.

More from TIME

Across the Atlantic, students in Spain launched a national strike against excessive assignments in November. And a second-grade teacher in Texas, made headlines this fall when she quit sending home extra work , instead urging families to “spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success. Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside and get your child to bed early.”

It is time that we call loudly for a clear and simple change: a workweek limit for children, counting time on the clock before and after the final bell. Why should schools extend their authority far beyond the boundaries of campus, dictating activities in our homes in the hours that belong to families? An all-out ban on after-school assignments would be optimal. Short of that, we can at least sensibly agree on a cap limiting kids to a 40-hour workweek — and fewer hours for younger children.

Resistance even to this reasonable limit will be rife. Mike Miller, an English teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va., found this out firsthand when he spearheaded a homework committee to rethink the usual approach. He had read the education research and found a forgotten policy on the county books limiting homework to two hours a night, total, including all classes. “I thought it would be a slam dunk” to put the two-hour cap firmly in place, Miller said.

But immediately, people started balking. “There was a lot of fear in the community,” Miller said. “It’s like jumping off a high dive with your kids’ future. If we reduce homework to two hours or less, is my kid really going to be okay?” In the end, the committee only agreed to a homework ban over school breaks.

Miller’s response is a great model for us all. He decided to limit assignments in his own class to 20 minutes a night (the most allowed for a student with six classes to hit the two-hour max). His students didn’t suddenly fail. Their test scores remained stable. And they started using their more breathable schedule to do more creative, thoughtful work.

That’s the way we will get to a sane work schedule for kids: by simultaneously pursuing changes big and small. Even as we collaboratively press for policy changes at the district or individual school level, all teachers can act now, as individuals, to ease the strain on overworked kids.

As parents and students, we can also organize to make homework the exception rather than the rule. We can insist that every family, teacher and student be allowed to opt out of assignments without penalty to make room for important activities, and we can seek changes that shift practice exercises and assignments into the actual school day.

We’ll know our work is done only when Zak and every other child can clock out, eat dinner, sleep well and stay healthy — the very things needed to engage and learn deeply. That’s the basic standard the law applies to working adults. Let’s do the same for our kids.

Vicki Abeles is the author of the bestseller Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation, and director and producer of the documentaries “ Race to Nowhere ” and “ Beyond Measure. ”

More Must-Reads From TIME

• Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
• Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
• Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
• The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
• Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
• Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
• The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Contact us at [email protected]

You May Also Like

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game New
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Study Skills

No More Homework: 12 Reasons We Should Get Rid of It Completely

Last Updated: February 16, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Finn Kobler . Finn Kobler graduated from USC in 2022 with a BFA in Writing for Screen/Television. He is a two-time California State Champion and record holder in Original Prose/Poetry, a 2018 finalist for the Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate, and he's written micro-budget films that have been screened in over 150 theaters nationwide. Growing up, Finn spent every summer helping his family's nonprofit arts program, Showdown Stage Company, empower people through accessible media. He hopes to continue that mission with his writing at wikiHow. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 118,195 times. Learn more...

The amount of homework students are given has increased dramatically in the 21st century, which has sparked countless debates over homework’s overall value. While some have been adamant that homework is an essential part of a good education, it’s been proven that too much homework negatively affects students’ mood, classroom performance, and overall well-being. In addition, a heavy homework load can stress families and teachers. Here are 12 reasons why homework should be banned (or at least heavily reduced).

School is already a full-time job.

• For years, teachers have followed the “10-minute rule” giving students roughly 10 minutes of homework per grade level. However, recent studies have shown students are completing 3+ hours of homework a night well before their senior years even begin. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

Homework negatively affects students’ health.

Homework interferes with student’s opportunities to socialize.

Homework hinders students’ chances to learn new things.

Homework lowers students’ enthusiasm for school.

Homework can lower academic performance.

Homework cuts into family time.

Homework is stressful for teachers.

Homework is often irrelevant and punitive.

• There are even studies that have shown homework in primary school has no correlation with classroom performance whatsoever. [9] X Research source

Homework encourages cheating.

Homework is inequitable.

Other countries have banned homework with great results.

• There are even some U.S. schools that have adopted this approach with success. [13] X Research source

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/no-proven-benefits
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/03/homework
• ↑ https://healthier.stanfordchildrens.org/en/health-hazards-homework/
• ↑ https://teensneedsleep.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/galloway-nonacademic-effects-of-homework-in-privileged-high-performing-high-schools.pdf
• ↑ https://time.com/4466390/homework-debate-research/
• ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220485.2022.2075506?role=tab&scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=vece20
• ↑ https://kappanonline.org/teacher-stress-balancing-demands-resources-mccarthy/
• ↑ https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-homework-pros-cons-20180807-story.html
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6294446/
• ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/homework-inequality-parents-schedules-grades/485174/
• ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/education-37716005
• ↑ https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-homework-its-the-new-thing-in-u-s-schools-11544610600

About This Article

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Leonardo F.

Did this article help you?

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter